Dumb question, dumping bag of salt into an empty tank

[xsentrixsupra]

So I have a 75g that was spare and had some cichlids in it as a"timeout" tank when they were being dicks to other fish in the big tank hah. There is nothing in it currently.

I was wondering if I can just dump a bag of reef salt into it and just let it cycle? There is a powerhead in there and an Eheim 2217 filter.

I know you should never dump salt into a tank with things in it already, but can I do that with a more or less empty tank with sand in it and a few rocks(which I would be replacing with live rock)?

Also, I realize this would come with a ton of other questions about what my plans are and experience level. Still fairly new. Have a Nano reef tank right now for about 4 months. Wanting to get a bigger tank with some fish in it. That is what lead me to wanting to just convert this 75g.

 

[mcgyvr]

Yes its something that one can do...You need to turn the powerheads/pumps on and keep them running.
But yes pour it in a high flow area and keep the water moving, sprinkle in some flake food each day for the first week or add a shrimp to decay or whatever and let it cycle for 4-6 weeks or so..

 

[xsentrixsupra]

Yes its something that one can do...You need to turn the powerheads/pumps on and keep them running.
But yes pour it in a high flow area and keep the water moving, sprinkle in some flake food each day for the first week or add a shrimp to decay or whatever and let it cycle for 4-6 weeks or so..

Yeah the pumps and powerhead run on it as it was my time out tank. I wasn't planning on putting anything in there until after the new year I don't think, but it would be an easy way to get it started.

Is this a terrible way to start a tank? Let me know if it is. I don't want anyone to hold back to spare my feelings hah. I just figured it would be fairly easy since there isn't anything in it and I could take advantage of a rare time there is a tank full of water and no livestock in it.

 

[mcgyvr]

Nothing wrong with doing it that way.. And trust me...I dont care about hurting your feelings

 

[xsentrixsupra]

Nothing wrong with doing it that way.. And trust me...I dont care about hurting your feelings

Haha awesome!

It just seemed so easy since I have a full tank up and running and bags of salt sitting here for my small nano tank. Seemed so easy I was thinking there would be something wrong with it.

 

[xsentrixsupra]

Nothing wrong with doing it that way.. And trust me...I dont care about hurting your feelings

Also would it be a good idea to take out the filter media? I am assuming that the bacteria from the fresh water setup will not survive in saltwater so that it could end up just causing complications and a dirty tank. Or will it not really matter?

 

[mcgyvr]

I'd remove the filter completely..

 

[xsentrixsupra]

I'd remove the filter completely..

Really? For how long?

So you're saying just run the powerheads in there for awhile?

 

[kevin21]

Yup, no need for the filter. Run this tank with your powerheads and saltwater. If you have live rock in there or add it, throwing some light on those as well would be good. A protein skimmer is a good investment for saltwater tanks, but not necessary during the cycle if you don't have one.

 

[xsentrixsupra]

Yup, no need for the filter. Run this tank with your powerheads and saltwater. If you have live rock in there or add it, throwing some light on those as well would be good. A protein skimmer is a good investment for saltwater tanks, but not necessary during the cycle if you don't have one.

Thanks for the advice.

Alright, I'll stop the filter and then just throw on the powerheads. I was planning on adding some live rock from the tank in my office that I was going to "borrow" haha.

Thanks guys. You've made this an incredibly easy decision to turning a freshwater tank into a saltwater tank.

Last question(I think) does it matter how much live rock you put in as far as starting it to cycle? Like if I put in 2-4 rather large rocks, would that help it more than like say 10 small pieces?

 

[kevin21]

Well, if the rock is indeed live rock, then putting those in, with zero die off on the rock, would actually cause a very limited cycle. Mcgyvr is the best when it comes to this stuff.

Most saltwater aquarists like to go with 1 lb per gallon. So you would probably like 75lbs of live rock in a tank that size. The live rock serves as your filtration system.

 

[xsentrixsupra]

Well, if the rock is indeed live rock, then putting those in, with zero die off on the rock, would actually cause a very limited cycle. Mcgyvr is the best when it comes to this stuff.

Most saltwater aquarists like to go with 1 lb per gallon. So you would probably like 75lbs of live rock in a tank that size. The live rock serves as your filtration system.

Thanks! Also I love your profile pic haha. Your clown just staring at the camera.

 

[Green Chromis]

Thanks! Also I love your profile pic haha. Your clown just staring at the camera.

:fish1: Hi, please take out the old freshwater and make a new batch of fresh RO/DI water. Take out the sand and rock you have in their, was copper ever used in the tank, and I would not recommend to any one to add salt to an old tank of freshwater. :fish1:

 

[xsentrixsupra]

:fish1: Hi, please take out the old freshwater and make a new batch of fresh RO/DI water. Take out the sand and rock you have in their, was copper ever used in the tank, and I would not recommend to any one to add salt to an old tank of freshwater. :fish1:

I was definitely planning on taking all the old fresh water out and the few rocks that are in there. There are 2 small catfish that would be impossible to catch if there was a lot of water in the tank. I wasn't planning on moving the sand though. I could, it wouldn't be that difficult. Is there a specific reason for taking out the sand? Copper was never used in the tank. Thanks for the heads up

 

[kevin21]

Yeah, I would take out the sand. You aren't going to want all those stored nutrients and bacteria in your new saltwater setup. You would be surprised to see all the gunk and garbage built up in that sand bed. Siphon the sand out and add new. I would also give the tank a rinse or quick scrub before adding the new sand and new water.

 

[Green Chromis]

:fish1: Hi, Kevin already answered the Question, like he stated you do not want all the organics that are in the sand. Start new, everything else will be new to, what are going to use for lighting, and what do you plan on keeping? :fish1:

 

[xsentrixsupra]

:fish1: Hi, Kevin already answered the Question, like he stated you do not want all the organics that are in the sand. Start new, everything else will be new to, what are going to use for lighting, and what do you plan on keeping? :fish1:

I have the Current USA Orbit Marine LED light set up. I was planning on keeping the lights and the filter and the sand. I was going to replace everything else.

Oh was also going to keep the powerheads but was planning on eventually changing that to the Current USA eflux wave pumps in the next few months.

 

[Green Chromis]

I have the Current USA Orbit Marine LED light set up. I was planning on keeping the lights and the filter and the sand. I was going to replace everything else.

Oh was also going to keep the powerheads but was planning on eventually changing that to the Current USA eflux wave pumps in the next few months.

:fish1: Hi, so what type of corals are you planning to go with, or are you only going to keep fish? :fish1:

 

[xsentrixsupra]

:fish1: Hi, so what type of corals are you planning to go with, or are you only going to keep fish? :fish1:

I was planning on doing mainly fish. I might throw some corals in there. The reason I wanted to start a 2nd salt tank though was I really wanted a flame angel hah. From what I gather those are known to nibble on corals from time to time.

I have some zoas, leather finger, torch, and duncan in my other tank. I might eventually move some into my big one...........but for the most part I wanted to get fish that I couldn't get before due to size of tank and corals.

 

[Green Chromis]

I was planning on doing mainly fish. I might throw some corals in there. The reason I wanted to start a 2nd salt tank though was I really wanted a flame angel hah. From what I gather those are known to nibble on corals from time to time.

I have some zoas, leather finger, torch, and duncan in my other tank. I might eventually move some into my big one...........but for the most part I wanted to get fish that I couldn't get before due to size of tank and corals.

:fish1: Ok, that sounds like fun, so you really don't have to worry to much about your lighting, good luck with the new tank. :fish1: